China’s lunar rover Yutu-2, or Jade Rabbit-2, discovered an unidentified substance in an impact crater on the far side of the moon.
The far side of the Moon is the hemisphere of the Moon that always faces away from Earth. The far side’s terrain is rugged with a multitude of impact craters and relatively few flat lunar maria compared to the near side.
The discovery was made during Yutu-2’s ninth lunar day of exploration on the moon, according to the Lunar Exploration and Space Program Center of the China National Space Administration.
The ground controllers designed a driving route for the rover to allow it to conduct scientific detection to the depth of the impact crater and the distribution of the ejecta, said the center.
“The Yutu-2 rover is expected to bring us more surprises and scientific discoveries,” said the center.
The lander of the Chang’e-4 probe and the Yutu-2 rover have resumed work for the 10th lunar day on the far side of the moon after “sleeping” during the extremely cold lunar night.
The lander woke up at 8:26 pm Monday, and the rover awoke at 8:30 pm Sunday (Beijing Time). Both are in normal working condition, according to the center.